I love seeing stories with my own eyes. It’s far easier to hide behind a laptop and post things without speaking to anyone. But that’s never been how Cwmbran Life has been run.
I go through weeks when I don’t get out and about as other things in my life get on top of me and I just have to get those things done. But then I’m lucky enough to be able to spend time with people, hear their stories, and publish them on Cwmbran Life.
This week I was fortunate enough to watch Victoria Hewitt, a disabled paddleboarder, complete her 35-mile trip along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, picking up litter on the way. She did it over a number of three to five-mile trips. Great effort. It was lovely to see members of the Bridge 46 to Five Locks Canal Group on the towpath cheering her as she hit the ‘finish line’.
And yesterday, I spent several hours in the old sports hall at Cheeky Monkeys in Fairwater chatting to the coaches of both Torfaen Warriors ABC and MSA Cwmbran Muay Thai. The two clubs now share a stunning boxing/ martial arts gym next to the soft play centre. Cheeky Monkeys (and Building Blocks Nursery) are open as normal.
I’ll declare a bit of bias (and blow my own little trumpet) towards amateur boxing and martial arts. I walked in Torfaen Warriors ABC’s first gym on Wesley Street in Old Cwmbran at the age of 16, over 30 years ago and put on a pair of boxing gloves for the first time. It led to an on-and-off love affair with boxing that ended at the age of 30-something and around 35 bouts.
It gives so much to people. Fitness, discipline, friendships, calmness, confidence. I could go on. The bit where you put on gloves and spar is a small part of it. I’ve got so much to thank Simon Weaver, the head coach, for what he’s done for the last 32 years to help young (and not so young) people in this area to bring a positive focus to their lives.
This new sports facility is a cracking addition to the site. I’ll get the stories on the website soon but visit the Cwmbran Life Facebook page now to see a few videos and pics I popped up last night.
Five best things of last couple of weeks
Here are a few of the stories that have made me smile both inside and outside 🙂
- Nevan Rea is a sixth-form student and is interested in sports journalism. He wrote this cracking feature after giving Cwmbran Town AFC’s manager some questions. Thanks Nevan. And thanks to Gabe Photography for permission to use your photo.
- Crowfest was one of my favourite memories of last year. On Friday, the email dropped in my inbox with details of the return of the music festival at Cwmbran Stadium. Thanks to Cwmbran Community Council for bringing it back.
- Definitely a sporting themes going on! Cwmbran is going to host a disability football tournament thanks to Llanyrafon FC. Read all about it here.
- The weeks before last I met some of the adults with disabilities who have produced accessibility guides to six Torfaen parks. Thank you for doing this fab piece of work. Read about it here.
- Nour is the community champion of Morrisons Cwmbran. She invited me in for a coffee and chat. It was lovely to hear about the work she does to support local groups and organisations. Read more here.
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